The pot Cuomo wants to raid comes from revenue sources -- like real estate transfer taxes, petroleum taxes and a portion of the state sales tax -- that are supposed to be dedicated to the MTA and its customers.

For tens of thousands of daily LIRR riders, this money keeps fares from growing higher still and helps pay for necessary service costs.

-- LIRR commuters also have been subjected to a merciless run of fare increases in recent years. Last year's hike was the fourth in five years. The increases have far outpaced the rate of inflation -- and new rounds of suffering are on tap for 2015 and 2017.

Meanwhile, service cuts have compounded the misery. But with $2.2 million in new revenue, the LIRR could add six new rush-hour trains each weekday, according to advocates from the Riders Alliance and NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign. It says that with $400,000, the railroad could add 10 new off-peak weekday trains. And with $300,000 it could add 10 new trains every weekend day.